WELCOME TO WIDOWED WORLD

01 August 2009

Greetings,

Because I love to capture the changing face of nature, today is the day of the month when I take a photograph of the view from my top floor window. With the South Downs way in the distance it’s possible to record the growth and colours throughout the seasons and then, viewed in sequence year by year, to see significant variations. This year, totally unlike July & August 2008, the wild trees forming the hedge boundary between our ‘Close’ and the neighbouring gardens opposite are absolutely awash with wild plums – red, yellow/red and golden yellow. They are ripening and falling faster than we can collect them to make jam, pies and country wine. What a bounty!

Two weeks ago, not expecting to be here myself, I’d encouraged my neighbours to become involved in the Eden Project Big Lunch. Imagine my delight then, when arriving home early I found our communal lawn decked with balloons, bunting, gazebos, barbecues, tables, chairs and about forty people all having a good time.  It was a very special occasion, further developing neighbourliness in our small community and paving the way for further get-togethers.  New residents were made very welcome and it was a delight to have a mix of age groups ranging from one year to sixties and seventies all happily interacting. It was a feast of the senses, a time when everyday activity was suspended and we simply enjoyed the moment. Moving away from my former home and long term neighbours was challenging but I am so pleased that I chose to re-locate here.

This week I’ve entertained a young German women travelling under the Couch Surfing organisation and we’ve had such a lovely time. My guest met several friends and acquaintances and one evening she and my grandson together prepared for us a German style supper. We talked of each other’s cultures and language, laughed and shared music. I so admire the young their sense of adventure and some day I’ll try Couch Surfing – celebrating my birthday at the Avignon Music Festival is on the cards for next July! So far this year I’ve entertained two British buskers, a lady from Montreal, three young French students and Sabine.  An equal number of people have contacted me but visits haven’t worked out for one reason or another – people from the UK, Australia, Egypt and more from Germany. I offer beds but in some cases it’s simply a space on the floor to lay a sleeping bag. This is a delightful way to make friends around the world and help ease the loneliness of living alone. Just yesterday I received a text from one of the French girls wanting to meet up again in October and my German student will be starting a university course locally next spring so will be a regular visitor. It’s so good to mix with young people and keep abreast of the times. Very soon there will be a world map on the wall with tiny pictures of each person who has stayed and where they’ve come from.

It does take time and energy but life is full of opportunity and can become absolutely anything you choose to make it.  Quite often the first step is the hardest but once taken, it’s amazing how things then start to fall into place.
If you’re hesitating, the book “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.” by Susan Jeffers is well worth reading!

Warmest wishes,

Jacquie